The Phineas household started early in the morning. The servants were moving before dawn, and Eirene woke up accordingly. She leaned against the second-floor railing and looked down at the first floor. 

While watching people busily working in the bluish light, Eirene was heading back to her bedroom when she encountered Siaran. She responded to his greeting with just a brief glance and grabbed the doorknob.

“I heard you injured your hand.”

“I didn’t realize my injured hand would be news that reached Siaran’s ears.”

She had expected all her actions would be reported to the Count and Countess, but she hadn’t anticipated Siaran would know as well.

“Everyone in this mansion probably knows about it.”

Eirene stepped back to avoid Siaran, who approached with a smile.

“The doctor said it was a deep cut. Let me take a look.”

She had hoped only Betty would know, but passing servants had noticed, and ultimately she had shown her hand to the resident doctor. Why would he want to see it now that treatment was finished? 

When Siaran extended his hand, Eirene hid her injured hand behind her back.

“It’s just a cut.”

“Is there a reason you won’t show me?”

“I never said I wouldn’t show you. It’s just bothersome to unwrap the bandage and wrap it again.”

“I’ll do it for you.”

His calm, gentle voice suggested refusal wasn’t an option. His outstretched hand seemed determined to remain there until Eirene placed her hand on it. To avoid arousing his suspicion, she should have simply given it to him, just like before. 

While her mind told her this was the time to deceive Siaran, she kept wanting to refuse. She couldn’t tell how much time had passed. It felt both very brief and very long. After hesitating, Eirene suppressed her feelings and did what her mind instructed. 

Siaran’s smile was about to disappear. The wound on her palm remained unchanged when the bandage was removed. He frowned. But he quickly rewrapped the bandage, concealing the wound.

“Haven’t you been practicing?”

He was referring to her Divine Power.

“I told you I wouldn’t. I don’t have that ability anymore.”

“Practice it.”

The smile disappeared from Siaran’s face.

“Why should I?”

Suddenly, Siaran pressed down hard on Eirene’s bandaged hand with both of his. Though she endured the pain without making a sound, she glared at him for his deliberate action.

“That hurts!”

Eirene’s voice rose, unusual for someone who rarely raised her voice.

“Only the living can feel pain. If you don’t prove your worth, you’ll eventually disappear from this world. If you want to live, do what I tell you.”

Disappear from this world. Eirene wasn’t surprised. Hadn’t she been someone who didn’t exist in the world all this time? 

She had shown herself to the world on her own and proven her value by being someone who could help Clive.

“I suppose Aishe needs me again?”

There couldn’t be any other reason. Has Aishe started getting sick again? They had clearly said the treatment was complete, but anything was possible. 

If Aishe was sick, it would confirm she didn’t possess the Divine Power. With a hint of expectation, she asked Siaran:

“Is Aishe sick?”

“No.”

The answer contradicted her expectations.

“Then if my Divine Power is needed somewhere, who requires it this time?”

“Knowing too much doesn’t help you survive. If you dislike using your Divine Power, find another way to prove your value.”

Siaran turned around after forcing a smile. He took one step, then stopped and spoke with his back still turned:

“Or become stronger.”

No matter how much Eirene pondered his words, she couldn’t understand what he meant. In a way, they almost sounded like advice for her benefit, despite knowing that couldn’t possibly be true.

* * *

For several days, Eirene woke up early and stayed up late, wandering around the Phineas mansion to understand and memorize its structure. To discover the Phineas family’s wealth and sources of income that Clive wanted to know about, she needed to search the study first. 

She located Count Phineas’s study and now waited for an opportunity to sneak inside. The servants were watching Eirene’s movements, but their vigilance gradually relaxed with each passing day. 

After a few more days, they would likely consider it part of her daily routine. In their minds, she would just be the lady from the basement eager to explore. She hadn’t seen Aishe for three days, perhaps because she was living her life as the young lady of the Baix family. 

Not encountering someone that made her uncomfortable made things easier. 

Eirene went to the garden wearing a hat during the warmest part of the day. Though sunlight still dazzled her eyes, it wasn’t a problem for her.

“Could you give me some space? I’d like to be alone.”

She asked Gemma who had followed her, then remembered that her job was to monitor Eirene.

“Your job is to stay by my side, so that won’t work. I forgot.”

“I’ll keep some distance.”

Gemma stepped back. Seated on the bench, Eirene’s gaze thoroughly scanned every corner of the garden. To an observer, she might appear to be admiring the garden, but her mind was racing. 

Should she try entering the Count’s study tonight? 

Besides her promise to Clive, Eirene herself was curious. More than the Phineas family’s wealth, she wondered why Clive wanted to know about it. The empire itself seemed unable to manage it properly, so what was there to discover? 

While deep in thought, she heard Gemma greeting someone behind her. Turning around, she saw Kailro. This was perfect, she had been hoping to meet him.

“Did you come to see me?”

Eirene spoke first. She regretted showing too much emotion when they met at the ball in Dervel Palace. She still needed to present herself largely unchanged from before.

“Yes. I saw you while taking a walk and came over.”

Kailro’s eye-smile shone like the sunlight gleaming above his head. Perhaps because it was daytime, he looked bright and energetic. Sitting a short distance from Eirene, he gazed into the distance.

“Eirene. About that day.”

“I was very upset then. I shouldn’t have treated you that way, and I apologize. Honestly, I was just venting to you after seeing you for the first time in a long while during a difficult situation. Despite those hard times, what matters is the present. You’re living normally like everyone else now, right? I no longer blame you, Aishe, or our parents.”

“I wouldn’t call it normal.”

From Kailro’s perspective, it certainly wasn’t normal. An older sister pretending to be the fiancée in place of her younger sister and deceiving the Grand Duke was a life-threatening matter.

“I’m satisfied just to have escaped the basement. I’m grateful to everyone.”

Words completely contrary to her true feelings came out. Even looking at Kailro’s kind face didn’t make her hesitate. Since he did that to her, she has no choice but to do the same. That’s how the world works.

“Be careful of Siaran.”

“He’s better than he appears.”

“Siaran is dangerous.”

She wondered if she should laugh. Siaran wasn’t the only dangerous one. Kailro sitting beside her, Aishe, the Count and Countess – everyone in the Phineas mansion was dangerous to Eirene. Kailro added, seemingly reading her thoughts:

“Aishe and our parents too.”

“What about you? Should I be careful of you too?”

His face looked bitter when he turned to look at her.

“I’m no different.”

His words seemed to disappear into his empty smile. She could see the kind man’s confusion. For a moment, Eirene thought about exploiting Kailro’s confused state. 

But for some reason, she simultaneously felt reluctant to do so. Kailro wasn’t the only one confused.

* * *

Unable to sleep properly again last night, Clive frowned from another headache. He couldn’t focus on anything without smoking a cigar, and just as he picked one up, Ulik entered.

“I heard Lady Eirene has been injured.”

“Injured? How badly!”

“I don’t know how it happened, but she hurt her hand, and the wound is this big.”

Ulik showed his palm to Clive, then drew a long line with his pen. Much longer than what he had heard. He pressed down a bit, making a straight mark like cutting with a knife.

“I heard she lost a tremendous amount of blood.”

Tired from days without sleep and upon hearing this news, Clive’s face nearly became as pale as Eirene’s.

“What about treatment?”

“Treatment… I’m sure they treated her? Anyway, I heard her condition is critical!”

Before Ulik could finish saying “critical,” Clive had already left the office, and Ulik quickly grabbed Clive’s outer garment and followed. Putting on his coat while walking, Clive went directly to the stable and mounted a horse. 

All he could picture was Eirene collapsed with a pale face, covered in blood. Though it shouldn’t happen, if anything were to go wrong with her.

“I won’t let it go.”

Clive repeated only that phrase until he arrived at the Phineas residence.

* * *

“Your Highness. What brings you here without notice?”

The Countess Phineas looked bewildered at Clive’s sudden visit. The Count and Aishe were nowhere to be seen.

“I came to see Eirene.”

“If you had contacted us, we would have sent her out.”

Knowing his visit was impolite despite being the Grand Duke, Clive responded rationally, contrary to his boiling emotions.

“I rushed over immediately after hearing she was ill and couldn’t notify you. I apologize.”

The Phineas main residence was indeed closed to outsiders. Even for an uninvited visit, having a conversation at the doorstep was unusual. It was clearly a stance against letting him in, but given who he was, conflict showed in the Countess’s eyes. 

Finally, though visibly reluctant, the Countess couldn’t leave Clive standing outside and invited him in.

“Eirene being ill? I’m not sure how you heard that a perfectly healthy child is sick. Please come in first.”

Walking behind the Countess, Clive sensed the awkward atmosphere pervading the mansion. The passing servants gave greetings while watching cautiously.

“Please wait a moment. I’ll call for Eirene.”

Clive waited for Eirene in the tea room he had visited before. Though sitting on the sofa and leisurely drinking the tea brought by a maid, his heart was anxious. Just as he finished his cup, Eirene entered. 

Before even receiving her greeting, he rushed over and took her bandaged hand. After checking the thickly wrapped bandage, he examined her body and unconsciously embraced her. A sigh of relief escaped as he tightly held the woman who fit perfectly in his arms. 

Seeing her safe, he felt reassured.

“Clive?”

“…”

“Clive, let go now. I can’t breathe.”

Clive released Eirene from his embrace. But still holding her shoulders and looking into her eyes, he asked:

“Are you really alright?”

“I heard you came because you received news that I was ill. As you can see, I’m perfectly fine.”

“Who did this to your hand?”

“I did it myself.”

“Why!”

At his exclamation, Eirene tilted her head.

“I accidentally cut myself while trying to trim my hair. But why are you angry?”

Her eyes showed genuine confusion, truly uncomprehending. Clive was at a loss for how to explain his feelings. He needed to say something, but he couldn’t understand his own complicated emotions.

“Did you get treatment?”

“It wasn’t a serious wound, so I just disinfected it and wrapped a bandage.”

“Didn’t you show it to a doctor?”

“The doctor did this.”

“Just disinfecting and bandaging counts as treatment?”

“A wound this size will heal with time.”

“Let’s go out and see another doctor.”

Clive grabbed Eirene’s hand and pulled, but she didn’t move.

“I can’t trust the doctor here. Let’s go. I need to show you to a doctor I know.”

“Clive. What’s wrong with you?”

Her voice became slightly irritated. Then, suddenly remembering something, she lowered her voice to a whisper:

“Do you have another task for me?”

Eirene had misunderstood, thinking he wanted to go outside to have a secret conversation. A chuckle escaped Clive’s lips, followed by a smile. Eirene truly drove him mad. 

Maddening yet adorable. Ah, what should he do with this woman?

—

T/N: I’m not sure why Clive was looking for “Eirene” when he was supposed to be pretending not to know and he should be looking for “Aishe” instead. I checked the raws and it really does say Eirene’s name instead of Aishe. Not sure if this is an error on the author’s part.